EPISODE #10 - SATURDAY JUNE 6, 2009

Wow, the rain has returned!  It is tough to get out and tackle those outdoor projects with the weather so cold and wet.  It might be time to get back indoors and tackle some of the inside projects that need to be done, like painting!  In this week’s show we look at the supplies you need to take on those inside painting jobs.  That is just one thing you can do, check out some of our other ideas…

 

Shady Looks

Your indoor lamps are one of the most overlooked décor items in your house.  As you paint and decorate you just move them from one room to another and miss the decorating possibilities that they offer.  To help give you some ideas we traveled to Naomi’s Lampshades (503-636-1884) in Lake Grove.  Bea Searles is the owner and she brought out a couple of lamps to demonstrate.  She made a quick change to one lamp that gave it a fresh new look.  But the problem was the height of the new shade; it was sitting too low on the lamp so all she did was change the ‘harp’.  The harp is the metal loop that goes around the light bulb to protect it and creates the structure to attach the shade to.  The fitting of the harp is very important when changing the shade.  Bea recommends that you bring your lamp into the store when you are looking for a new shade so you can see how the shade fits.  You can even change the look by changing the finial which is the part at the top of the lamp.  For more tips you can check out their website, or visit them on Boones Ferry Road in the Lake Grove/Lake Oswego area.

Cork Issues

We return to Vinotopia (877-608-2800) in Vancouver to chat with Rudyard Coltman about corks.  You can tell a lot about a wine by the cork.  Rudyard told about some things you should look for in a cork and how to tell if it affects the wine you will be drinking.  First look to see if the cork is firm.  If it is cracked then the wine may not have been stored correctly.  Leakage around the cork signals too much heat and may mean the wine has been compromised.  You should also smell the cork and the wine to look for cork rot.  If they both smell like a wet dog or moldy newspapers you may have a wine tainted by cork rot.   To learn more about wines (and corks) you can take one of the many classes at Vinotopia in Vancouver.

Grind Your Own Spices

One of the quickest ways to ‘punch’ up your recipes is with fresh spices and you can create your own tasty spice combinations by ‘cooking’ and grinding your own spices.  We met with Chef Vaidya from the Oregon Culinary Institute (1-888-OCI-CHEF) who showed Chef David how easy it is to do.  Chef Vaidya picked out 7 different spices for us to look at.  We saw some different spices like clove, cinnamon, bay leaf and nutmeg. Spices can be anything that adds flavor to a recipe and can come from different parts of plants in nature.  It can be a leaf, seeds or even bark from a plant.  Chef Vaidya showed us how to use a stove-top pan to heat the spices.  The heat releases the volatile oils from the spice and creates a more intense flavor.  After heating he ground the spices in a mortar and pestle. This also helps release the flavor and mixes the spices into different combinations.  You can store these spice mixes up to 6 months.  If you are interested in taking some cooking classes and learning more, check out the Oregon Culinary website.

Enchilada Sauce

Chef David returns to the kitchen to share another recipe that uses our basic tomato sauce that we prepared a few weeks ago (check out the Tomato sauce recipe here).  We started by tearing up, removing the seeds and soaking some New Mexico chilies.  Remember when you are working with chilies, peppers or other spicy foods to wear gloves or wash your hands.  You don’t want the oils to get into your eyes by accident.  This recipe also uses white onion, garlic, and some chicken stock.  You start by sweating down the onions (cooking out the moisture) then we add the garlic, the chicken stock and the tomato sauce.  After a few minutes the peppers are added and once they are allowed to simmer you can blend and strain the mixture to get a great sauce that you can use on chicken or cheese enchiladas.  For the full recipe you can check it out here.

Salmon Types

It is salmon season!  You may have noticed that a lot of restaurants are featuring salmon on their menus, but what are the different types of salmon and how can you tell a good piece of salmon from a bad one.  To learn the answers to that question we stopped by McCormick and Schmick's to chat with Chef Ryan Smith.  The different types include King, Sockeye, Coho and the Keta salmon.  There is also the Pink salmon but it is mainly for canning and is not in season right now.  The difference in the color and flavor of the salmon is based on the fat content and the environment in which it grew up in.  We found out that Alaska salmon is so good because the fish are in colder water.  The colder water makes them carry more fat and that makes them more flavorful.  But don’t worry this is a good fat.  It is a ‘heart friendly’ fat that is packed with omega-3 oils and anti-oxidants.  If you are looking for a good grilling salmon, Chef Ryan prefers the Sockeye, but all of the species hold up well to grilling.  The only rule for grilling is to reduce the heat!  You can dry out and ruin a good piece of salmon by grilling it too long and hot.  If you are picking out a piece of salmon you will look for a fresh ocean smell and good color.  A yellow sheen on the fish means it may have been in the store too long.  To learn some recipes on preparing the salmon you can check out the McCormack and Schmicks Seafood cookbook (available at their restaurants) or you can check out the Alaska Seafood website and get some great recipes, and get more information about this sustainable and delicious treat.

Indoor Painting Supplies

If you are looking to change the paint color in your home, your job will be a lot easier if you do the right prep work before you get started.  Chris from Parr Lumber (503-531-7277) pulled together some of the supplies that you will need to do the job right the first time.  First you will need a drop cloth.  This will protect your furniture and your flooring from paint damage.  Next we saw the painting tape.  Painting tape is special because it will protect your edges (and the paint won’t run) and it is easy to remove and won’t damage the wall.   You will also need a couple of different paint brushes.  There are a lot of different brushes out there and you can pick from many different styles of brush.  Chris recommends a large bristle brush for big areas (you can use a roller too), and a smaller brush for painting fine edges and tight corners.  You can also get small disposable foam brushes that will work great too.  He also showed us the ‘Shur-Line’ painting tool.  This gadget will allow you to paint against molding quickly and easily.  You will also need gloves and a paint bucket or tray.  Just these few tools and you are on your way to a quick and easy job of painting.
 

 

 

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